The Jedera Adventure by Lloyd Alexander

Author:Lloyd Alexander [Alexander, Lloyd]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Girls & Women, Deserts, Action & Adventure, Adventure and adventurers, Juvenile Fiction, Fiction, Middle East, Nature & the Natural World, People & Places, General, School & Education
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

An-Jalil motioned with his head. "See to her."

The gigantic Tashfin Ag Tashfin strode up, but Maleesh had already taken Jenna in his arms. The Tawarik chuckled at his efforts.

"Give over, little man. I can carry a burden twice that."

"No doubt," Maleesh grunted, "but she is no burden at all."

"Step back, Tashfin," An-Jalil ordered. "Let him do. If he can."

Maleesh, in fact, bore Jenna on his shoulders until we reached level ground and An-Jalil mercifully called a halt. Under the care of Vesper and Maleesh, Jenna revived. An-Jalil ordered an extra share of food and water for her.

Then he rounded on Maleesh.

"You did a foolish thing."

"I am not a wise man," replied Maleesh.

"Do you think you showed bravery?"

"No," replied Maleesh. "I am not a brave man."

"Why, then?" demanded An-Jalil.

Maleesh looked squarely at him. "It was my will to do so."

I would not have been surprised if An-Jalil had struck Maleesh for this impertinence, but the amenokal only turned a hard, measuring glance on him, then went to speak among his companions.

Later, An-Jalil called us all together. He announced that, by his calculations, we were at least a day ahead of Sheik Addi and his band; no question, we had safely outdistanced them. Once we reached the Sahkra, it would be only a matter of hours to Bel-Saaba. Therefore he allowed us an unexpected luxury: a full night's sleep.

Then he did something even more unexpected.

"Only among trusted friends," he said, his eyes going to each of us, "only among those we respect and love—"

He undid the portion of the turban covering his face.

"Then do we go unveiled."

He let the cloth fall aside.

An-Jalil had called himself a jinn, but I saw him as no unearthly spirit—unless the spirit of the desert itself. His cheeks and brow were pitted and grooved as if by countless sandstorms. Though his black beard was silver-shot, it gave no clue to his age. He could have been young; he could have been ancient. His mouth had the half smile of a dreamer; his eyes held the mystery of vast distances beyond any horizon. I also remembered how quick he was with a dagger.

Vesper went toward him. "For us," she said, "among those we respect and love—"

She embraced him, and we followed her example. An-Jalil's companions now put aside their blue face coverings and came to offer us their salaams. They were unnerving enough with their veils in place; without them, even more. All of them bore an assortment of scars; the huge Tashfin boasted a dozen. Attia el-Hakk had a set of teeth a wolf would have envied. Had it not been for the honor bestowed on us, I would have felt more comfortable if they had stayed masked.

Vesper, however, was soon laughing and talking among them as easily as she had done with the Legionnaires. Smiler and Slider came in for their share of admiration. The twins, indeed, seemed quite at home, as if they had been on familiar terms with this sort of rough company elsewhere.

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